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We are a collection of researchers working in a wide variety of fields including microbiology, ecology, agriculture, dairy science, marine biology, and the philosophy of science. What do we have in common? A desire to bring science in easily digestible and understandable pieces for those who are interested. Here, we plan to start a conversation about science, how science is done, and put this conversation in the context we understand best, the science that we do.

Bacterial cells outnumber your own humans cells ten to one. Thanks to advances in sequencing technology reducing costs, you can finally get to know these silent co-inhabitants. In the first installment of the let's experiment series, Kenny lays out his experiment to get to know his microbiota and examine how his inhabitants respond to a drastic change in diet and probiotic use.

Fungi are all around you - those mushrooms you got at the grocery store yesterday, the mold on that tomato you forgot in the fridge, and the yeast that gives wine its mellow mood, but were you aware they can also help plants grow? In fact, without this weird group of fungi, we wouldn't have a lot of the plants we currently depend on!

Despite the importance, observing evolution is difficult. Working with microbes makes it easier but people cannot easily relate to microbes. However, we can all relate to sex. In the spirit of Father’s day, let’s talk about the evolution of male genitalia and how we can thank society for shaping the male member into what it is today.

We are all familiar with the phrase "you are what you eat", but what does this mean? More so, is this is an accurate statement? This post explores the Biochemistry behind the food we eat and why we eat it. It dives into junk food and swims right through organic.

What is life like in a microbial pig-pile? In a word, crowded. In fact, life in nature is typically crowded and this fact is something scientists and biologists wrestle with all the time even in medical science. For example, if microbes that cause disease or live in and on our bodies predominantly live in crowded communities called biofilms, are these microbes primarily adapting to us or each other? Perhaps we can learn something new with a unique perspective.

Some of you may have heard of our Mutualism of the Month theme. Congratulations on coming across our first post for Molecule of the Month!

What is a molecule, you ask? It can be defined simply as a neutral group resulting from two (or more) atoms binding.

This month, I'll be discussing a molecule we know all too well...perhaps? Na-Cl (sodium chloride), also known as salt. Why do we need salt? How is it formed? Where does it come from? All this, and more!

Would you eat human feces for a hundred dollars? How about if it could treat your chronic diarrhea?

Much to our dismay, our dogs sometimes eat poop but is this always a bad thing? Here, I discuss the possibility that this practice could be an innovative treatment similar to a fecal transplant used to treat chronic diarrhea in humans rather than just a gross habit.

Water plays a (very obvious) role in our everyday lives, but how often do we consider its source? This post is a quick and informative overview in deciphering where your water is coming from, where it's going, and how much of it we can continue to "drink up" at the rate we're currently at - with a little Biochemistry mixed in too, of course!

Would you share your ice cream cone with your favorite furry friend? Do you know where that mouth has been? Many pet-owners believe that their dog's mouth is cleaner than their own. Using my knowledge of microbiology and human microbiome research, I break down the reasons why people believe this myth and determine if we should be sharing our ice creams with our pet's.

FOX’s “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson premiered this past Sunday. During the show, pioneering microbes were credited with the invention of sex. Here, I cover some of the theory behind this statement and explain why the evolution of sex is pretty remarkable.

Feed the data monster

As scientists, we hope that the quality of our work speaks for itself. The truth is, however, we as scientists need to speak for our work. Here, we plan to start a conversation about science, how science is done and put this conversation in the context we understand best, the science that we do. We are a collection of researchers working in a wide variety of fields including microbiology, ecology, agriculture, dairy science, marine biology and the philosophy of science. What do we have in common? A general desire to bring science in easily digestible and understandable pieces for those who are interested.

A collection of researchers working in a wide variety of fields with a desire to bring science in easily digestible and understandable pieces for those who are interested. Stay Hungry!